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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture
Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in western Xinjiang, China, bordering Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Its capital is Artux. The prefecture is home to 622,222 people (as of 2020) and covers an area of 70,916 km (27,381 sq mi). Most Kyrgyz in China reside in Kizilsu; they make up a little over a quarter of the prefecture's population. The Uyghurs are the largest ethnic group in Kizilsu, consisting of nearly two-thirds of the population.

Etymology

For other uses, see Kyzyl-Suu (disambiguation).

The name Kizilsu (also spelled Kezilesu, derived from Chinese pinyin) refers to the Kezi River and means "red water" in the Kyrgyz language. Kiziloy, Kizilto, and the Kizil Caves are nearby places that also use the prefix kizil (red).

History

Kizilsu was within the territory of the First East Turkestan Republic, which lasted from November 1933 to April 1934. The establishment of the short-lived breakaway state was thanks in part to a political and military alliance between Uyghurs and Kyrgyz in western Xinjiang.

The Southern Xinjiang Administrative Office of the People's Republic of China established the Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Region on 14 July 1954. The autonomous region was reorganised as an autonomous prefecture in February 1955.

In 1955, the townships of Barin, Jamaterek, and Ujme were transferred from Yengisar County to Akto County, as was Bulungkol from Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Kashgar Prefecture.

In April 1990, a protest in Barin against Chinese rule in Xinjiang escalated into an armed insurrection, in what came to be known as the Barin uprising or Barin riot.

Subdivisions

Map including the westernmost point of China (DMA, 1982)

Kizilsu directly administers 1 county-level city and 3 counties.


(Note: This map does not reflect changes to the China–Tajikistan border.)
# Name Simplified Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Uyghur (UEY) Uyghur Latin (ULY) Kyrgyz (Arabic script) Kyrgyz (Cyrillic script) Kyrgyz Latin transcription Population (2020 Census) Area (km) Density (km)
1 Artux 阿图什市 Ātúshí Shì ئاتۇش شەھىرى Atush Shehiri ارتىش شاارى Артыш шаары Artysh shaary 290,936 15,698 18.53
2 Akto County 阿克陶县 Ākètáo Xiàn ئاقتو ناھىيىسى Aqto Nahiyisi ﺍﻗﺘﻮﻭ وودانى Актоо ооданы Aktoo oodany 226,005 24,555 9.20
3 Akqi County 阿合奇县 Āhéqí Xiàn ئاقچى ناھىيىسى Aqchi Nahiyisi اقچىي وودانى Акчий ооданы Akchiy oodany 44,369 11,545 3.84
4 Wuqia County 乌恰县 Wūqià Xiàn ئۇلۇغچات ناھىيىسى Ulughchat Nahiyisi ۇلۇۇچات وودانى Улуучат ооданы Uluuchat oodany 60,912 19,118 3.19

Demographics

According to the 2020 census, Kizilsu has 622,222 inhabitants with a population density of 6.36 inhabitants per km. Most Kyrgyz in China (80 per cent) reside in Kizilsu. As of 2013, 27 per cent of the inhabitants of the prefecture were Kyrgyz.

Population by ethnicity
Nationality 2000 2010 2018
Population % Population % Population %
Uyghur 281,306 63.98% 339,926 64.68% 413,655 66.24%
Kyrgyz 124,533 28.32% 143,582 27.32% 163,863 26.24%
Han 28,197 6.41% 35,629 6.78% 39,292 6.29%
Tajiks 4,662 1.06% 5,547 1.06% 6,097 0.98%
Hui 432 0.10% 447 0.08% 586 0.09%
Uzbek 44 0.01% 196 0.03%
Kazakhs 88 0.02% 180 0.03%
Manchu 33 0.01% 86 0.01%
Mongol 40 0.01% 66 0.01%
Tatars 35 0.01%
Sibe 33 0.01%
Russians 5 <0.01%
Daur 2 <0.01%
Tibetan 51 0.01%
Tujia 49 0.01%
Others 558 0.13% 134 0.03% 400 0.06%
Total 439,688 100% 525,570 100% 624,496 100%

Government

Party secretary

Governor